Q4 ACAs for 2017

[loup99]

Happy new year AARland! With a new year having just started, it is also time to look back upon the old year that ended, and in particular the latest quarter of 2017, which will be the focus of this round. As has been the tradition for the latest years, all voting will remain centralised to this single thread, following the usual quarterly rhythm. Naturally, I encourage that you post about the ACAs in your AARs and your signatures to spread the word and get a high participation.

Voting will start now and end in roughly one month (see the date below). All AARs updated between October 1st 2017 and December 31st 2017 (inclusive) are eligible for nominations. You may nominate up to four AARs for each of the following games:

Europa Universalis IV
Crusader Kings II
Victoria II
Hearts of Iron IV
Stellaris

and up to four additional games in the "other" category, which includes all other Paradox Development Studio games not mentioned above. Kindly use the following format:

[Name of game/"other"]
1. AAR name, author, URL
2. AAR name, author, URL
3. AAR name, author, URL
4. AAR name, author, URL

If an URL has already been posted once, there is no need to put it up again.

The deadline for voting is February 4th at 8 PM (+1 GMT).

With that said, it is now time for the voting to begin!

- Loup, current host of the ACAs

 

[coz1]

Well, you were quick on the draw for this one, @loup99 and good on ye for it! Merry new year to you and all else and thank you for continuing to host these awards. I shall now look to building my ballot. So much good stuff!

 

[Nuada Airgetlám]

I'll get back to this thread with a list.

 

[Macke11]

Happy New Year! Thanks for going about hosting the ACAs again @loup99! I have watched the thread now, so expect my votes in due time!

 

[alscon]

Still have to do some more reading, but I'll comment in those I haven't yet at some point, when I've caught up, which might be a while though. I should find more time to delve into the quality produced in CK II .

CK II:

Before Plantagenet by JabberJock14
Blut und Schlacht (Blood and Battle): A Learner’s Saga by Bullfilter
The Red Crown: a sAARdinian tale by Prominences
The Bold Prince by coz1

 

[coz1]

OK, so an early ballot...

For CK II:

@Asantahene for The Wolves of Westseaxna-a tale of Wessex - it's my favorite story in CK, bar none.
@Bullfilter for Blut und Schlacht (Blood and Battle): A Learner’s Saga - more than a learner's saga, it's a great tale.
@JabberJock14 for Before Plantagenet – A House d’Anjou AAR - the strongest debut by a writer I have seen in 15 years...an excellent story.
@markkur for "LIttle Britain" - I love the premise, the experiment and the challenge...and I just love the guy.


For EUIV:

@fabiolundiense for [1.22] Horses for a Kingdom : A Pontic AAR - great challenge and writing.
@JerseyGiants88 for Italian Ambitions: A Florence AAR - great style and presentation (nice screens too).
@stnylan for Entering the First Court: Kanem Bornu - one of the most creative works in the history of the forum.
@volksmarschall for Europa: In the Age of the Fourth Race of Kings - professorial for good reason, this is an exemplar of the genre.


For Victoria II:

@Jape for Forza Italia! - excellent work and hopefully more to come.
@RossN for L'Empereur est mort: A French AAR - history book at its best.
@Russiaruler for Song Long Qi—An isolationist China AAR - I do not tend to read a lot of Vickie AARs these days but this one is top notch.
@TheCreator901 for Atlasii Steel and Blood - it is clear that much effort and love went into this work and it should be recognized.


For HoI4:

@George_VI for Advance Britannia! - A Kaiserreich Restored United Kingdom AAR - I am a sucker for English/British works and this one is great.
@Lordban for The Führer Goes Nuts! (again) - great comedy and great to see the writer back amongst us.
@stnylan for Uranium for Uruguay - an offshoot and it remains just as creative.
@ThaHoward for Long Live the Permament Revolution! - a Trotskyist Soviet AAR. - very well done and a great look at the time. I may put this up here if for nothing else the great chummy picture of Stalin and Trotsky at the start. Great find!

I hope to add more and reserve the right to change my vote in the time allowed. My goal in the new year is to look at the other games a lot more than I have. They deserve just as much love.

 

[Bullfilter]

OK, so an early ballot...

For CK:

@Asantahene's The Wolves of Westseaxna-a tale of Wessex - it's my favorite story in CK, bar none.
@Bullfilter's Blut und Schlacht (Blood and Battle): A Learner’s Saga - more than a learner's saga, it's a great tale.
@JabberJock14's Before Plantagenet – A House d’Anjou AAR - the strongest debut by a writer I have seen in 15 years...an excellent story.
@markkur's "LIttle Britain" - I love the premise, the experiment and the challenge...and I just love the guy.


I hope to add more and reserve the right to change my vote in the time allowed. My goal in the new year is to look at the other games a lot more than I have. They deserve just as much love.

Thanks both for the reminder ... and the mention, coz1! This reply to put the thread on my watched list.

 

[LordDamien]

CK2
Empire of one- The Songs of Sheeran - https://forum.paradoxplaza.com/foru...of-sheeran-a-ckii-agot-narrative-aar.1036251/ This was the AAR that got me to write my own. Such good quality and narrative

Eurasia - The Road of Queens - https://forum.paradoxplaza.com/forum/index.php?threads/road-of-queens-ckii-india-aar.1035262/
Another great AAR that is very well done !.

 

[Asantahene]

OK, so an early ballot...

For CK:

@Asantahene's The Wolves of Westseaxna-a tale of Wessex - it's my favorite story in CK, bar none.
@Bullfilter's Blut und Schlacht (Blood and Battle): A Learner’s Saga - more than a learner's saga, it's a great tale.
@JabberJock14's Before Plantagenet – A House d’Anjou AAR - the strongest debut by a writer I have seen in 15 years...an excellent story.
@markkur's "LIttle Britain" - I love the premise, the experiment and the challenge...and I just love the guy.


I hope to add more and reserve the right to change my vote in the time allowed. My goal in the new year is to look at the other games a lot more than I have. They deserve just as much love.

Thanks so much for the support as always @coz1. Coming from one of the best writers on here means a helluva lot. This also by way of reserving for me to post my own later.

Happy new year and thabks @loup99 for this

 

[Badesumofu]

CK2:

Before Plantagenet - JabberJock14 - https://forum.paradoxplaza.com/foru...re-plantagenet-–-a-house-d’anjou-aar.1014631/

This is my favourite AAR ever. Whenever my alerts feature 'JabberJock14 has quoted your post in Before Plantagenet' I get a little ting of excitement. It's also the AAR that really convinced me I wanted to properly dive into CK2. Just brilliant.

 

[Tom D.]

My first contributions, other games will follow later:

EU4:

- Ming/Manchu Non-Abrahamic One Faith by @mackwolfe .
- [1.22] Horses for a Kingdom : A Pontic AAR by @fabiolundiense .
- World Conquest for Dummies 2.0 by @SKOTy .
- The Last Bastion of the Romuva - A 1356 Lithuania AAR by @Ericpiplup .

Stellaris:

- Even Better Hautevilles by @hjarg .
- What's left of us, what we became by @Lordban .
- The Calling of Nharr - Stellaris Succession Game AAR by @Nikolai .
- The Hierarchy of Urth: A History Told By Others by @Wolfgang I .

HOI4:
- Uranium for Uruguay by @stnylan .
- Hindsight 20/20: a Dutch narrative AAR by @J_Master .

EDIT: added more nominations

 

[coz1]

I've added a bit above to my ballot, and I must say as I look at it that CK and HOI are cooking compared to Vickie and EU in the last three months. Many great works in all of them and I continue to seek out those to give a nomination.

To voters, I hope that you would try to fill out a full ballot. There are always more than one or two works in any game that are deserving. One just has to find them.

 

[Asantahene]

So here are mine:

CK2:

1. The Bold Prince by @coz1. Still, for me, a magisterial work and the inspiration for so many AARs out here.
2. Beyond Planatagenet by @JabberJock14. Another masterful piece of writing that has me avidly checking for updates on a daily basis
3. Blut und schlact (blood and thunder): A learner's saga by @Bullfilter. A superb mix of gameplay and narrative and interaction-a great debut in CK2 AARland
4. The Little Dux by @TheButterflyComposer A wonderfully immersive tale of Venice and though he posts even more rarely than me this one is well worth a mention

Others (as they are HoI III):

1. Talking Turkey: an alternative history from 1936 by @Bullfilter. Another magisterial work that I am doing my best to catch up in.
2. “U-boats for Uruguay” a short TFH farce by @markkur. an excellent little tale both funny and captivating. Certainly made me chuckle...often

HoI IV:

2. Britain: An Empire at War. Historical UK AAR by @JimmySplodge03. Another great debut in HoIIV AARland

Stellaris:

1. The Children of the Sath'ka: A History of the Tor'van by @jasondroth24. A sweeping, grand tale of civilisations in space
2. Grim Tomorrows: Selected Documents from the United Nations/Hoffman-Wutani Colonization Partnership by @benacre. a cracking tale of earth's efforts at galactic hegemony-written in a somewhat ironic if ominous style-really enjoyable

 

[Macke11]

So here are mine:

CK2:

1. The Bold Prince by @coz1. Still, for me, a magisterial work and the inspiration for so many AARs out here.
2. Beyond Planatagenet by @JabberJock14. Another masterful piece of writing that has me avidly checking for updates on a daily basis
3. Blut und schlact (blood and thunder): A learner's saga by @Bullfilter. A superb mix of gameplay and narrative and interaction-a great debut in CK2 AARland
4. The Little Dux by @TheButterflyComposer A wonderfully immersive tale of Venice and though he posts even more rarely than me this one is well worth a mention

HoI IV:

1. Talking Turkey: an alternative history from 1936 by @Bullfilter. Another magisterial work that I am doing my best to catch up in.
2. Britain: An Empire at War. Historical UK AAR by @JimmySplodge03. Another great debut in HoIIV AARland
3. “U-boats for Uruguay” a short TFH farce by @markkur. an excellent little tale both funny and captivating. Certainly made me chuckle...often

Stellaris:

1. The Children of the Sath'ka: A History of the Tor'van by @jasondroth24. A sweeping, grand tale of civilisations in space

I don't mean to be fussy or pedantic, but Bullfilter's and markkur's tales are written based on HoI3, which falls under the "others" category. Otherwise, a good ballot!

 

[Asantahene]

I don't mean to be fussy or pedantic, but Bullfilter's and markkur's tales are written based on HoI3, which falls under the "others" category. Otherwise, a good ballot!

Oh I did wonder whether it should be HoIIII or IV

Shame really as I feel these stories should be in the Hearts of Iron category but I’ll correct this

 

[Eurasia]

EUIV

- Horses For The Kingdom : A Pontic AAR By @fabiolundiense

CKII

- Blut und Schlacht (Blood and Battle): A Learner's Saga By @Bullfilter
- The Little Dux By @TheButterflyComposer
- Whiteshirts of England: A History of the Hvitserk Dynasty of Jorvik AAR By @tpmcinty

VII

- Song Long Qi—An isolationist China AAR By @Russiaruler

 

[TheButterflyComposer]

A wonderfully immersive tale of Venice and though he posts even more rarely than me this one is well worth a mention

It is deadline week you know...

Thank you to all nominations thus far. CKII has a very, very large selection of current AARs of esteemed quality so it's nice to be in there somewhere.
Ballot to come. I think this time I can actually fill all the sections

 

[fabiolundiense]

My first contributions, other games will follow later:

EU4:

- Ming/Manchu Non-Abrahamic One Faith by @mackwolfe .
- [1.22] Horses for a Kingdom : A Pontic AAR by @fabiolundiense .
- World Conquest for Dummies 2.0 by @SKOTy .
- The Last Bastion of the Romuva - A 1356 Lithuania AAR by @Ericpiplup .

EUIV

- Horses For The Kingdom : A Pontic AAR By @fabiolundiense

CKII
- Blut und Schlacht (Blood and Battle): A Learner's Saga By @Bullfilter
- The Little Dux By @TheButterflyComposer
- Whiteshirts of England: A History of the Hvitserk Dynasty of Jorvik AAR By @tpmcinty

VII
- Song Long Qi—An isolationist China AAR By @Russiaruler

Thank you very much for the nomination ! And thanks especially for all the comments you've left

 

[Nuada Airgetlám]

I found this tough to fill out, but here are my Q4 votes!


Europa Universalis IV
1. Italian Ambitions: A Florence AAR, @JerseyGiants88, https://forum.paradoxplaza.com/forum/index.php?threads/italian-ambitions-a-florence-aar.916434/

2. [1.22] Horses for a Kingdom : A Pontic AAR, @fabiolundiense

3. Into the West - (Pt 2.Khitan Image Heavy Megacampaign), @dragoon9105, https://forum.paradoxplaza.com/foru...-pt-2-khitan-image-heavy-megacampaign.1063082

4. Europa: In the Age of the Fourth Race of Kings, @volksmarschall


Crusader Kings II
1. Blut und schlact (blood and thunder): A learner's saga, @Bullfilter

2. "LIttle Britain", @markkur

3. The Red Crown: a sAARdinian Tale, @Prominences, https://forum.paradoxplaza.com/forum/index.php?threads/the-red-crown-a-saardinian-tale.1059837

4. Legend of the White Worm, @NGC224, https://forum.paradoxplaza.com/forum/index.php?threads/legend-of-the-white-worm.745371


Victoria II
1. Baltic Lightning: a Grand Campaign AAR [Vic2 Branch], @Centurial, https://forum.paradoxplaza.com/forum/index.php?threads/baltic-lightning-a-grand-campaign-aar-vic2-branch.1044078

2. Song Long Qi—An isolationist China AAR, @Russiaruler

3. Atlasii Steel and Blood, @TheCreator901 , https://forum.paradoxplaza.com/forum/index.php?threads/atlasii-steel-and-blood.1048975/

4. The Liberty Bell Rings: The Story of The Free American Commonwealth, @trekfan, https://forum.paradoxplaza.com/foru...ry-of-the-free-american-commonwealth.1044338/


Hearts of Iron IV
1. Advance Britannia! - A Kaiserreich Restored United Kingdom AAR, @George_VI, https://forum.paradoxplaza.com/foru...iserreich-restored-united-kingdom-aar.1037432

2. Vanguard in the West - A KR Flanders-Wallonia AAR, @Sglaz , https://forum.paradoxplaza.com/foru...n-the-west-a-kr-flanders-wallonia-aar.1054050

3. La Bataille de Dresden: A Kaiserreich Vingette, @thezerech, https://forum.paradoxplaza.com/foru...le-de-dresden-a-kaiserreich-vingette.1051884/

4. Uranium for Uruguay, @stnylan


Stellaris
1. The First Century: A United Nations Stellaris AAR, @cookfl, https://forum.paradoxplaza.com/foru...entury-a-united-nations-stellaris-aar.1013372

2. The iron march, @Kamelot, https://forum.paradoxplaza.com/forum/index.php?threads/the-iron-march.1054392/

3. Grim Tomorrows: Selected Documents from the United Nations/Hoffman-Wutani Colonization Partnership, @benacre

4. What's left of us, what we became, @Lordban, https://forum.paradoxplaza.com/forum/index.php?threads/whats-left-of-us-what-we-became.1048042/


Other
1. “The Crown Atomic”: A Kaiserreich Cold War AAR (Canada and Entente), @cookfl, https://forum.paradoxplaza.com/forum/index.php?threads/“the-crown-atomic”-a-kaiserreich-cold-war-aar-canada-and-entente.840042

2. Black Tsar - Kaiserreich AAR, @Vlad_Dracul1989, https://forum.paradoxplaza.com/forum/index.php?threads/black-tsar-kaiserreich-aar.881377/

3. “U-boats for Uruguay” a short TFH farce, @markkur, https://forum.paradoxplaza.com/forum/index.php?threads/“u-boats-for-uruguay”-a-short-tfh-farce.1044261

4. Empire of the Rising Sun - TRP AAR, @Vlad_Dracul1989, https://forum.paradoxplaza.com/forum/index.php?threads/empire-of-the-rising-sun-trp-aar.960705

 

[RossN]

OK, so an early ballot...

For CK II:

@Asantahene for The Wolves of Westseaxna-a tale of Wessex - it's my favorite story in CK, bar none.
@Bullfilter for Blut und Schlacht (Blood and Battle): A Learner’s Saga - more than a learner's saga, it's a great tale.
@JabberJock14 for Before Plantagenet – A House d’Anjou AAR - the strongest debut by a writer I have seen in 15 years...an excellent story.
@markkur for "LIttle Britain" - I love the premise, the experiment and the challenge...and I just love the guy.


For EUIV:

@stnylan for Entering the First Court: Kanem Bornu - one of the most creative works in the history of the forum.
@volksmarschall for Europa: In the Age of the Fourth Race of Kings - professorial for good reason, this is an exemplar of the genre.


For Victoria II:

@Jape for Forza Italia! - excellent work and hopefully more to come.
@RossN for L'Empereur est mort: A French AAR - history book at its best.


For HoI4:

@Lordban for The Führer Goes Nuts! (again) - great comedy and great to see the writer back amongst us.
@stnylan for Uranium for Uruguay - an offshoot and it remains just as creative.

I hope to add more and reserve the right to change my vote in the time allowed. My goal in the new year is to look at the other games a lot more than I have. They deserve just as much love.

Thank you for the nomination!